Violence Erupts During Local Body Elections in Andhra Pradesh
Tensions Rise Amid Polling in Andhra Pradesh
Screengrab image shows tension at a polling station following a petrol bomb attack during local body election in Andhra Pradesh(Photo: @KadapaRathnakar/X)
Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Nov 5: On Thursday, polling for the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) elections in Andhra Pradesh was marred by violence, including petrol bomb attacks and clashes in various locations, particularly in YSR Kadapa and Tirupati districts.
The political rivalry between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) intensified as both parties accused each other of instigating the violence.
In Errampalli village, located in the Pulivendula constituency, a stronghold of YSRCP leader and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, petrol bombs were thrown near a polling station, causing panic among voters.
This incident reportedly occurred after police barred a group of YSRCP supporters from entering the polling booth due to escalating tensions.
Following this, unidentified individuals launched petrol bombs near the polling site. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and additional police forces were dispatched to maintain order.
Another incident unfolded in Nallapureddypalle village in the Penagaluru mandal of Tirupati district, where YSRCP leaders claimed that TDP supporters attacked their polling agents with petrol bombs.
Further unrest was noted in Nanduluru, YSR Kadapa district, where police stopped vehicles suspected of transporting outsiders into the area.
Clashes between TDP and YSRCP supporters were also reported in Chilakalapalli, Parvathipuram Manyam district, while YSRCP and Jana Sena Party members engaged in a physical altercation near a polling center in Vizianagaram district.
Law enforcement intervened in both situations to restore calm.
As of 11 a.m., the State Election Commission (SEC) reported a voter turnout of 21.12 percent. Polling commenced at 7 a.m. across 31,460 polling centers for the MPTC and ZPTC elections.
Approximately 2.61 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes, with polling scheduled to continue until 5 p.m.
The elections are being held for 582 ZPTC and 7,767 MPTC seats statewide.